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Siddiqi police 'recovered eight years of CCTV footage'

Police recovered eight and a half years worth of CCTV footage as they investigated the fatal stabbing of a 17-year-old at his Cardiff home, a murder trial has heard.

DC Allan James told the jury at Swansea Crown Court that he had viewed the CCTV images over the last two and a half years as part of the investigation.

Aamir Siddiqi was killed in April 2010 at his home in Ninian Road in Cardiff.

Jason Richards, 38, and Ben Hope, 39, are on trial accused of his murder and the attempted murder of his parents.

They both deny all the charges against them.

DC James told the court: “I have been viewing images of CCTV from all over the city.“I have extensive knowledge of the images within this compilation,” he added.

The jury heard that there were around 100 to 120 cameras involved in the investigation and included images from public houses, private houses and commercial premises.

Among the images that the jury viewed was one from March 29, 2010 - 13 days before the murder of Aamir - which showed the door of a home at Janner House which Mr Hope’s address is at.

DC James said Mr Richards could be seen walking out using a mobile phone.

Patrick Harrington QC, prosecuting, said the jury were to take it that it had been agreed by all parties that it was Mr Richards.

They also viewed CCTV from April 4, April 6, April 7 and April 8 2010 which showed a silver Volvo travelling around Cardiff.

There was also CCTV images shown of Mr Richards making his way around Cardiff locations on foot and bus in the days before the murder.

Mr Harrington said that on April 9, 2010 there was “some significant telephony”.

He told the jury that a text message was sent on April 9 from a phone attributed to Mr Richards to a man who cannot be named for legal reasons which read: “Came and el me (sic), I want to see you today.”

He said another was sent the same day from the same phone to the man who cannot be named which read: “This is no game, come and see me asap.”The court heard that both texts were picked up the next day.